Spouse

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Movie
German title Spouse
Original title Skylark
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1941
length 93 minutes
Rod
Director Mark Sandrich
script Zion Myers , Allan Scott
production Mark Sandrich for Paramount Pictures
music Victor Young
camera Charles B. Lang
cut LeRoy Stone
occupation

Eheposse (original title: Skylark ) is an American literary film adaptation from 1941. Directed by Mark Sandrich , who also appeared as a producer. The housewife Lydia Kenyon, played by Claudette Colbert , feels neglected by her husband Tony ( Ray Milland ), so soliciting the attractive lawyer Jim Blake ( Brian Aherne ) comes in handy.

The film is based on Samson Raphaelson's story Streamlined Heart , which was published January 7 to February 4, 1939 in the Saturday Evening Post and was subsequently published as a novel. In the same year it was then performed on Broadway under the title Skylark with Gertrude Lawrence in the lead role.

action

When Lydia Kenyon finds out that her husband Tony, an advertising specialist, does not even take the time to choose a present for her on the occasion of her fifth wedding anniversary, but has commissioned his friend George Gorell to do it, she tries to take it with humor . But when he thoughtlessly left her cook to the snooty Myrtle Vantine, the wife of his employer, that day, she had enough and she left her own cocktail party with the lawyer Jim Blake, whose acquaintance she had just made. She resists Jim's attempt to seduce her, however, and after a few hours returns to her house, where the party is now over. Tony believes that Lydia's behavior may jeopardize his business relationship with the Vantines and insists that she call them to apologize for her behavior. Myrtle Vantine and Jim Blake have an affair.

Lydia takes Tony's last request as an opportunity to leave him and asks Jim to familiarize her with the formalities of the divorce. Meanwhile, Tony tries to change Lydia's mind by telling her that he has quit his job and now has a lot of time for her. When Lydia visits Myrtle Vantine, who threatens Lydia to fire her husband if she does not give up her relationship with Jim, Lydia learns that Tony has lied to her. As a result, Lydia insists on a quick divorce in Reno .

Jim and Lydia spend a lot of time together now, and Jim falls seriously in love with Lydia. Tony still refuses to accept the divorce. He has since lost his job and has taken on a new job with the government in South America in the hope of winning Lydia back. A decision is made when Lydia and Jim get caught in the throes of a storm while sailing and Lydia suddenly knows exactly who she wants to spend the rest of her life with, Tony! She ends her relationship with Jim and sees Tony waiting in Havana harbor when her ship comes in.

production

Production notes

The shooting lasted from January 29th to April 2nd, 1941. Edith Head , one of Claudette Colbert's favorite designers, was responsible
for the costumes . Colbert's status for the studio is evident from the fact that eighteen different changes to her film wardrobe were made in response to her intervention. This then led to her buying some clothes for her private use. Colbert also wore diamond clips and bracelets made by De Beers in the film , which featured its products in Hollywood films of the 1930s.

background

Spouse was a comedy of the kind popular in American cinemas in the early 1940s. Both Colbert and Milland were contract actors with Paramount. Colbert had long been one of the stars of the studio by that time. When offered the role in Skylark , she insisted that Milland get the role as her husband. Originally, Melvyn Douglas was slated to play Tony Kenyon. Although Louella Parsons announced in her gossip column on December 7, 1940 that George Brent would be loaned to Paramount by Warner Bros. to play the important third part alongside Colbert and Milland, the role of Jim Blake went to Brian Aherne.

The sea storm sequence during filming made Colbert feel sick all the time, so that she suffered twenty-seven bruises on her body.

Adaptation of the template

Raphaelson's template was changed for the film to the extent that the part in which an adopted child is sent back to the orphanage was deleted, as it was believed that Claudette Colbert's fans could not be expected to act so heartlessly.

publication

The film hit theaters in New York on November 19, 1941, the day before Thanksgiving , and anything but a success would have been a big surprise; on November 21, 1941 it then started generally in the USA. In 1942 it started in the following countries: Portugal, Sweden, Mexico and Finland. On May 1st and May 12th 1945 it was shown in the Spanish cities of Barcelona and Madrid. It was published in France in 1946, in Japan in 1950 and in Australia in 1951. In the Federal Republic of Germany, Eheposse was first shown on West 3's television program on October 31, 1985.

Aftermath

Claudette Colbert, Ray Milland and Brian Aherne resumed their roles in a Lux Radio Theater broadcast on February 2, 1942.

criticism

For the lexicon of international film , the film adaptation was "[e] twas superficial, but pleasantly entertaining and lively marital comedy".

Bosley Crowther of the New York Times called the film a cheeky and tasty little delicacy . [...] He recommended to enjoy a slice of the frivolous fun served up by the Paramount cooks, this man-woman-man comedy, spiced with subliminal humor, garnished with finely employed actor performances, because Skylark is a catering Dream.

Variety was quite pleased with the film adaptation and the changes made to the structure of the story with regard to Raphaelson's original, which would benefit the implementation on screen. Under the skillful direction of Mark Sandrich as producer and director , the film develops a lively pace , and the comedic elements are carefully accentuated . The performance of Claudette Colbert was praised, who used every line and situation for an attractive development . Ray Milland has been recognized for a first-rate performance in his role as a businessman, with Brian Aherne drawing attention as a lithe other man .

Award

Loren L. Ryder received for the Academy Awards 1942 nominated for the Oscar in the category " Best Sound ", but had to Jack Whitney admit defeat, the trophy for his performance in the film drama last Lord Nelson's love to take home allowed.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f Skylark (1941) at TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English). Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  2. ↑ a b Skylark (1941) Notes at TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English). Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  3. ↑ Skylark (1941) Original Print Info at TCM (English). Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  4. ↑ Spouse. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed December 25, 2018 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  5. ↑ Review: Skylark In: Variety. Retrieved March 25, 2017.